Posted on 02/04/2003 11:38:38 AM PST by areafiftyone
February 04, 2003 POLL FINDINGS
Kerry leads rivals in new survey
By KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Telegraph Staff
landrigank@telegraph-nh.com
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry maintains a solid lead among likely New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary voters in 2004, according to a poll released Monday.
Here is how the Democratic presidential candidates fared in a new poll of voters in New Hampshire and Iowa released Monday:
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kerry: 36 percent
Lieberman: 18 percent
Dean: 16 percent
Gephardt: 8 percent
Edwards: 6 percent
Sharpton: 1 percent
Undecided: 15 percent
IOWA
Kerry: 24 percent
Gephardt: 23 percent
Lieberman: 13 percent
Edwards: 9 percent
Dean: 8 percent
Sharpton: 2 percent
Undecided: 21 percent
Source: American Association of Health Plans
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean were locked in a tight battle for second place in the survey done for the American Association of Health Plans.
The HMO trade group decided to release the poll a year before the first scheduled primaries of Feb. 3, 2004, to direct debate on health care to include specifics on affordability, quality, access and choice.
“We have launched this campaign to redirect the spotlight to what the voters – not the politicians – want from their health care system,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Karen Ignagni.
“In past presidential campaigns, the health care issues that are important to voters have been too often sidelined by political rhetoric. The voters have seen enough of that – and we are committed to holding the candidates accountable to give the voters the debate they want and deserve.”
The poll found nearly 60 percent of New Hampshire Democrats and 78 percent of Republicans believed health care plans were offered in past elections to try to get votes rather than to improve the system.
Meanwhile, the poll also found Kerry is in a statistical dead heat with Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt among likely participants in the Iowa caucuses.
“That’s perhaps the biggest surprise in our surveys as Gephardt has been the presumed front-runner in Iowa,’’ said Dan Leonard, the association’s senior vice president for strategic planning and public affairs.
Ayres, McHenry & Associates Inc. polled 400 likely Democratic primary voters and the same number of Republican primary voters at random by telephone on Jan. 26-28.
The margin of error for each group was plus or minus 5 percent.
Independents made up 42 percent of the Democratic sample polled and 28 percent of the Republican primary group.
In Iowa, the firm polled 300 people who may go to each party’s caucuses in that state. The margin of error was 5.7 percent.
Q. Whitford Ayres, who conducted the poll, said support was universal among both parties in New Hampshire and Iowa for candidates to spell out how any health care plans they offer will affect costs and coverage.
The group has retained Republican media consultant Tom Rath to advise it on how to promote debate during the primary. It plans billboard advertising on the issue at Manchester and Des Moines airports.
On health care, New Hampshire Democrats considered coverage for the insured to be the top priority issue (27 percent) followed by the need to control costs (20 percent).
Republicans listed cost concerns as the top issue (24 percent) followed by the need for a drug benefit plan for senior citizens (20 percent).
What a perfect description!! ROFLMAO!
I don't consider her a legitimate threat, even if she does announce. Maybe in 2008, when it's an open seat and she's got a re-election under her belt.
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